By GB News (World News) | Created at 2025-03-15 06:04:43 | Updated at 2025-03-15 10:21:04
4 hours ago
A major authority in London has issued hefty fines to e-bike operators for failing to meet crucial traffic regulations in place across the borough.
Kensington and Chelsea Council revealed that it has fined operators more than £3,000 for e-bikes being abandoned in the area and causing obstructions to pedestrians.
During an enforcement period, the council seized 42 bikes, with operators charging an expensive release fee to have them back.
A total of 30 Lime bikes and 12 Forest bikes were taken from locations around the borough and secured in a storage location before invoicing the operators for the removal and storage of each bike.
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The council charged e-bike operators more than £3,000 to reclaim the transport vehicles
KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA COUNCIL
Both operators were forced to pay fees to cover the costs of storing the bikes and releasing them, with all 42 now returned and back on the streets.
Enforcement has been taking place borough-wide, although one recurring hotspot for complaints was Walton Place, near the popular shopping destination, Harrods.
Following enforcement action, Lime and Forest have agreed to attend the bay more regularly to ensure bikes are parked correctly.
This comes after a Transport for London announcement in November 2024 that it would consider enforcement action where bikes are abandoned. In response, Lime stated it would hire more on-street team members to help ensure bikes were not clogging up pavements.
Enforcement officers seized more than 40 e-bikes in the borough for being abandoned
KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA COUNCIL
Councillor Cem Kemahli said: "We remain supportive of rental e-bikes but there is a line. Where abandoned bikes are putting pedestrians and drivers in danger we are acting now to remove them.
"It takes a fair amount of officer time to enforce in this way, so I am relieved that the trial has shown that operators are willing to cough up to cover the costs of seizing and storing their bikes.
"The truth is we cannot catch every single bike and I hope operators realise that a better solution for everyone is for them to act more quickly to clear obstructions and to incentivise respectful and considerate rider behaviour."
The council shared that it has 54 rental e-bike parking bays with 187 marked bays, while the rest are virtual bays visible via provider apps.
The council operates 54 rental e-bike parking bays with 187 marked bays
KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA COUNCIL
Councillor Max Sullivan said: "Cycling is a great way to get around the city and, as a council, we want to make it as easy as possible to hop on a bike - but too often shared e-bikes in Westminster cause obstruction on our pavements.
"That's why I'm glad to confirm that our network of e-bike parking bays will continue to be a feature of Westminster streets and part of lessening the impact on pedestrians of the over 600,000 journeys by shared e-bike per month in our borough."
